A Christmas reception was given by the' Russian members, of the S,..P. Reserve Unit in their canteen at Gordon Road barracks' on Jan, 7, at noon and was well attended by many. officials of the force, among them Major K. 31. Bourne, S.M, P. Commissioner, Captain H. M,'Smythe, Deputy Commissioner H.
Samson, Superintendent Farlane, inspector B, G. Trodd and The guests were welcomed by Sub-Inspector N. A, Alexandroff and were served with drinks and zakutka, Chinese Oppose Rate Increase Shanghai, Jan. 11.
During the past few days strong opposition has been voleed in the Chinese press of all afilations against the proposed increase of the municipal rate by the Shanghai Municipal Council in order to make good Its deficit. While inspired ar-Hleles have been published by leading dailies in sympathy with Chungking against such a move in a mild way, the "Sin Shun Pao" and "Central China Daily News" have been most outspoken in this respect, the latter even going so far as to assert that It''the Shanghai Municipal Council continues to be irrational, "there will be a day for final reckoning:
Deatng_with the ner eased rate blem editorially, the latter paper, Brgan of the new' Nanking regime, Severely eritcizes the Counel's policy in. many respects, alleging that its expenses ave been. most unreason-Sble'By paying an American lawyer for his services in American money Simply. because he understands the Mrunslated™ Chinese law, 1 said have been squandering the money ald by ratepayers. The employment many. foreign officials and pay ment of foreign exchange allowances To them Indicate the "selfishness" of those "in control of the Council, 'These acts, It iv said, infringe upon Zhina's sovereign rights onthe one thand and cause ofilals to. squander Fatepayers' money on the other.
Lack of Control Criticized The Council is severely criticized for Its inability to cope with the speculation in Shanghai which has caused the increase of prices and Tabour unrest. The Council should retrospect" and "rationalize" its expenditure. The paper is not satisfied with the reasons given by the Council for the rate increase, asserting that in'some eases the increase is the result of irresponsibility. The reason for providing $3,000,000 for paying foreigners on furlough is said to be non-existent.
On Thursday, the "Sin Shun Pao" published an equally strong editorial against the tax increase, but the Paper stressed the fact that while many of the Council's expenses are {in foreign currencies (which are said to be unreasonable),, the tax money Chinese currency: The management of the Council does not ft in with the environment in Shanghai. Retrocession of the Settlement is demanded and it is suggested that citizens in this city should lose no time to petition the "Municipal Assembly" (of the Chinese city regime) for help. Reports published by other Jeading Chinese papers state that the Council's polley 1g contrary to its polley of reducing prices and that the Chinese should replace forelgnfers in the Council wherever possible In order to save foreign exchange allowances. The orchestra must £0, the paper says. of the Economy Committee will be submitted for the approval of rate payers at the forthcoming Annual' Meeting in April.
It Is proposed to transfer tempora arily {0 Extraordinary Account the whole of the estimated defeat of $2,775,000 for 1040. Sooner or later steps will have to be taken to ligul-"date this sum, but for the tine beng ratepayers are only being asked to provide the Council with adequate funds to enable it to defray its anticipated expenditure for 1941.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.